Pedestrian pushes suicide bid man off bridge

A passer-by annoyed by a man holding up traffic by threatening to jump off a bridge in southern China pushed him over the edge, calling the suicide attempt a “selfish activity”.

The official Xinhua News Agency says Chen Fuchao, fell 26 feet onto a partially inflated emergency air cushion and suffered spine and elbow injuries.

Xinhua said today Mr Chen was dangling over Haizhu bridge in the southern city of Guangzhou on Thursday morning when Lai Jiansheng walked by.

According to the Beijing Morning Post newspaper, Mr Lai said he pushed Mr Chen because “jumpers like Chen are very selfish”.

Mr Chen’s suicide threat – triggered by a $290,000 (€207,000) debt from a failed construction project – had held up traffic for five hours.